MAM
VH1, Nokia, Pepsi team up for Mark Knopfler concert
MUMBAI: ‘The Sultan of Swing’ Mark Knopfler is all set to rock Mumbai this evening 5 March. The former Dire Straits singer who has become an icon for his incredible guitar playing will perform in the suburb of Bandra which will be followed by a concert in Bangalore on Monday.
Music channel VH1, Pepsi and Nokia have partnered for the event which is being organised by DNA Networks. VH1 will have interview clips with the artiste as well as clips from the concert. Over the past few days Nokia has been conducting a ‘Sultan Of Swing’ contest. Fans had to visit Nokia Priority deals. They had to answer simple questions after listening to Dire Straits music ay specially created Nokia listening posts. People could win merchanidise in the form of T-Shirts, caps, lyric books, a special collectors’ pack. One person gets a ticket to see the concert from a lounge. Nokia partnered with Radio city and Go for the contest.
Hutch chief marketing officer Harit Nagpal pointed out that music was a powerful platform for the company to connect with the youth. “We will continue to support efforts to bring global superstars to India. In the past we have associated with Sting, Enrique Iglesias and Shaggy.” DNA Networks MD T. Venkat Vardhan said that though there were no tax breaks given in Mumbai the company had decided to go ahead. This explains the high ticket price of Rs. 2500.
“We will see the response the concert gets. As it is there are many people who ask for a complimentary pass. On top of that I have to pay tax. If this situation continues then I would prefer to have concerts in Bangalore. We will be bringing down another high profile pop artiste in September.” It may be recalled that Sting had given Mumbai the heave ho a few months ago for precisely this reason.
Knopfler says, “Songwriting has its own laws. I think of myself as being a jack of a few trades and a master of none. I don’t think that I would be the best person to give advise to upcoming musicians. I play all wrong. People ask me if I ever get bored with what I am playing and the answer is yes. Sometimes I fall asleep playing. The beauty about a concert is that you never know exactly where a song is going to go. Also you never know what might inspire you to do a great composition.”
What attendees can expect: The concert will feature “flying lights”, 100,000 watts of sound and a ‘galaxy’ backdrop. Knopfler will take Mumbai through the “Walk of Life” and also give them Money for Nothing.
For the first time ever in a concert in India, ‘flying lights” are being used. The lights will be suspended 40 feet from the ground and will be arrayed to give a ‘four-finger’ effect. Fifty moving heads of intelligent lighting will be lit up at split- levels. One of the world’s best sound systems that’s available in the country V-DOSC is being used to output 100,000 watts of sound.
All this will be against a backdrop of an LCD Star cloth that will produce a remarkable ‘galaxy’ effect of stars on the 3000 sq ft stage. Knopfler has brought 10 tonnes of personal music equipment, including 36 guitars. The guitars will include Fenders, Martins, Les Pauls, a Gretsch 6120, a Drugan Arch Top and an Epiphone. The band line up comprises of Mark Knopfler lead guitar and vocals), Glenn Worf (bass), Chad Cromwell (drums), Richard Bennett (guitar), Guy Fletcher (piano), Matt Rollings (piano, organ and accordion).
MAM
PropertyPistol appoints Hemant Bajaj as chief marketing officer
Proptech firm taps global marketing leader to sharpen brand and growth strategy.
MUMBAI: In the fast moving world of proptech, building homes may be the business, but building the brand is just as crucial. Propertypistol, the proptech driven real estate advisory platform, has appointed Hemant Bajaj as its chief marketing officer (CMO) as the company looks to strengthen its brand narrative and accelerate growth across markets. Bajaj will lead the company’s marketing operations across multiple geographies, overseeing brand strategy, integrated marketing initiatives and revenue aligned growth programmes as Propertypistol prepares for its next phase of expansion.
The appointment comes at a time when the proptech sector is seeing rapid digital adoption, with companies increasingly focusing on leadership talent capable of combining technology, data driven marketing and customer experience.
Bajaj brings experience spanning India, South East Asia and the Middle East, where he has worked on scaling brands and leading digital transformation initiatives across multiple industries. His work in the marketing and media ecosystem recently earned him recognition as a ‘Powerhouse Leader’ at the Mastermind Awards in Dubai, highlighting his track record in managing high impact marketing mandates.
Propertypistol founder and managing director Ashish Narain Agarwal said the appointment comes at a pivotal stage in the company’s journey as it looks to strengthen its market presence.
“Hemant’s appointment comes at a defining moment for us. As we scale our market position, it is vital to have leadership that blends strategic vision with executional depth. Hemant’s deep understanding of brand and business alignment will be instrumental as we redefine the proptech landscape,” Agarwal said.
Bajaj said Propertypistol’s technology first approach to real estate advisory was one of the key reasons behind his decision to join the company.
“Propertypistol has established itself as a technology first platform that is redefining how investors navigate the property market. Having led marketing transformations across international borders and fast paced industries, I recognise the exceptional strength of the foundation built here,” he said.
He added that his focus would be on accelerating the company’s digital marketing capabilities while building strategies that deliver sustained value for customers and partners worldwide.
The leadership move reflects Propertypistol’s broader effort to strengthen its executive team as the proptech industry evolves rapidly. With property search, advisory and transactions increasingly shifting online, companies in the sector are investing heavily in marketing intelligence and digital platforms to stay competitive.
By bringing Bajaj on board, Propertypistol is betting that sharper brand positioning and technology led marketing will help it stand out in an increasingly crowded digital real estate marketplace.
